June 2007

Goals Soccer Centre Proposal for Regent's Park
Community Response

By Friends of Regent's Park and Primrose Hill

1. Threat to Parkland

The Royal Parks, a government agency, and Goals Soccer Centres, a private company, are applying to Westminster City Council for planning permission for the development of 10 five-a-side artificial football pitches with changing rooms, café and bar. The site lies in mature woodland and meadow just to the west of the existing golf and tennis school, which the Royal Parks proposes to close. The golf and tennis school has been in Regent's Park for nearly 100 years. The Royal Parks have already signed a conditional contract with Goals Soccer Centres for 20 years and threaten to give six weeks' notice to the golf and tennis school on the submission of the planning application.

The proposed five-a-side soccer centre is strongly opposed by at least 4000 local people including The Friends of Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, members of The Golf and Tennis School, The Marylebone Society, The Marylebone Association, The St John's Wood Society, The Primrose Hill Community Association and The Regents Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee to name but a few.

The Friends of Regent's Park have launched a campaign against the proposals, not because they are against football, but because they believe the park is the wrong location for such a development.

2. Background

Regent's Park, some 166 hectares or 410 acres in size, was designed in 1813 as an upmarket landscaped villa development by John Nash, the renowned architect and friend of the then Prince of Wales, later George IV. It was gradually opened to the public from 1835 and today includes stunning rose gardens with more than 30,000 roses of 400 varieties, a lake with boating, cafes, the London Zoo and the largest outdoor sports area in Central London - already nearly 100 acres including 22 football pitches.

3. Local People Oppose Plans

Local residents and park users object to the five-a-side soccer centre because:

• The development will result in the destruction of a tranquil area of meadow and mature trees in which people walk, sometimes with dogs, jog and enjoy picnics.
• This area also provides a habitat for birds, bats and tawny owls
• The proposed development will occupy a site three times the size of the present golf and tennis school.
• Parkland lost to development is likely to be lost forever.
• It will result in the permanent closure of a well-used facility for popular sports. At present more than 2000 people use the Golf and Tennis School. Unlike five-a-side, people of all ages, the very young and the very old of both sexes play golf and tennis.
• The current outdoors golf training facility is unique to Regent's Park and Central London.
• The Goals Soccer Centre is a commercial endeavour. It will not benefit the local community.

4. Why the Soccer Centre is not right for Regent's Park

• The proposed Soccer Centre will result in the concreting over of nearly four acres of the Park and the destruction of a nature-rich woodland, inhabited by bats, birds and Tawny Owls
• The proposals will turn an area of peaceful beauty in the park into an eyesore
• Many mature trees will be lost.
• It is a highly urbanised form of development, which could equally well be found in a retail or business park.
• The noise will disturb other users of the park, who seek respite from the busyness of London life.

• The pitches will be surrounded by high 4 metres high fence with 100x100 knotless black netting.
• The ten pitches will be in operation from 07.30am until 10.30pm at night lit by 6 metre high flood lights which will add to light pollution.
• Further building includes a bar/café and changing facilities.

Not a community facility

• The Royal Parks claims the facilities will be accessible to local schools 60% of the time. However, evidence suggests that schools do not need these facilities. Both Westminster and Camden are well served for five-a-side football.
• The park's grass pitches are already under used. This year from 1st Jan to 6 Nov 2006 they were only booked 14 times by local state schools and 168 times for private schools. According to the Camden School Sports department, state schools do not have the staff, transport or timetable to make use of the park's sporting facilities and this will remain the case should the Goals Soccer Centre go ahead.

• Goals Soccer Centres are predominantly used by men aged fewer than 40. At present a much wider age group uses the golf and tennis facilities.
• Goals Soccer Centre intends to seek an alcohol license and there is real concern about the potential for noise and anti-social behaviour.

Already plenty of football pitches in the Park

• Regent's Park already has 22 grass football pitches including 10 for adult teams, 11 mini-pitches for children and small-sided games and one mid-size pitch.
• The recently opened Hub close to the site of the proposed Goals Soccer Centre is a first-class building with changing facilities for 290 people, space for exercise classes and a café.
• In both Westminster and Camden there are already many five-a-side facilities

Inadequate transport facilities

• The only nearby bus route is single deck with an average 15-minute service. Parking is limited. The current proposals offer 20 spaces. Nearby roadside parking is pay and display seven days a week.

5. The Friends of Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill

The Friends of Regent's Park and Primrose Hill was set up in 1993 and has more than 1200 members. When funds allow, it makes donations to the park, most recently a pair of long tailed ducks.

The Friends are members of the Royal Parks Forum of Friends from all eight Royal Parks. The forum is responsible for advising affecting the Royal Parks on their park matters through the Minister of Culture.

The other members of the Royal Parks Forum: St James, Green Park, Hyde Park Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park and Bushey Park are also opposing the five-a-side proposal and are against the concept of five-a-side soccer in Royal Parks.

If you would like to add your voice to this campaign please use the following email link. PLEASE also include your name and postal address in the email if you would like your response to be added to our petition ... thanks.

We have been advised that Westminster will accept your emailed response as a petition if you include your name and full postal address in your email. They will send you a letter with the final outcome.

Created on Sunday 10 December 2006, last edited Wednesday 20 June 2007. Errors & Omissions excepted